Major Sinha murder case: HC upholds all sentences

The High Court yesterday confirmed the death sentences of Pradeep Kumar Das, former officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, and former sub-inspector Liaqat Ali for killing Major (retd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan.

The HC also upheld the life imprisonment of six others handed down by the trial court in the same case.

The six are ex-SI Nandadulal Rakkhit, former constables Sagar Deb, and Rubel Sharma and police informants Md Nezamuddin, Nurul Amin, and Ayaz Uddin.

The eight convicts are in jail.

Yesterday, the HC bench of Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain delivered the verdict after hearing the death reference and the appeals filed by the convicts challenging the trial court judgment.

Details of the HC verdict will be known once its full text is released, Deputy Attorney General Md Jasim Sarkar told The Daily Star.

Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, elder sister of Sinha, told reporters on the Supreme Court premises that they would be fully satisfied if the judgment is executed on completion of the next legal procedures at the Appellate Division.

Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman told reporters at his office that the killing of Major (retd) Sinha is one of the most heinous incidents in the history of Bangladesh.

The state has been able to discharge its responsibility as the HC has confirmed the death sentences of two convicts, Pradeep and Liaqat, and upheld life imprisonments of six other convicts, he said.

"The void left by Major (retd) Sinha cannot be filled in any way. However, the people, particularly the loved ones and colleagues of Major (retd) Sinha, who raised their voices against his killing, will get peace following the High Court verdict," the attorney general said.

Responding to a question, Asaduzzaman said that his office would take necessary steps for expeditious hearing and disposal of the appeals if those are filed with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the HC judgment.

Pradeep's lawyer Mohammad Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury told this newspaper that his client might file an appeal before the Appellate Division challenging the HC verdict after receiving the full text.

The process for execution of the death sentences will be suspended once the appeal is lodged, he added.

Liaqat's lawyer SM Shahjahan could not be reached for comments on the HC verdict despite repeated attempts over phone.

Major (retd) Sinha, who served in the Special Security Force (SSF), was killed in police firing at Baharchhara police checkpoint on Marine Drive road in Teknaf on July 31, 2020, triggering angry reactions on social media with many decrying it as police excess.

His elder sister Sharmin filed the murder case with Teknaf Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court against Pradeep, Nandadulal, and several others on August 5 that year.

On January 31, 2022, Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Ismail sentenced Pradeep and Liaqat to death and six others to life term imprisonment for the murder of Sinha.

The trial court documents of the case were sent as a death reference to the HC on February 8, 2022, for reviewing the lower court's verdict. Subsequently, the convicts individually appealed to the HC against the judgment.

The HC started hearing of the death reference and appeals on April 23 this year and held hearings for 24 days till May 29.